110 The Value of Cotton Grass, or 



for the benefit of pastoral farmers, and with the view of 

 suggesting means for increasing it. A neighbouring 

 proprietor, who is also a practical farmer, has sent me 

 a bundle of letters from correspondents of practical 

 experience in the moorland farms, and also an account 

 of the proceedings of the Teviotdale Farmers' Club, 

 where the subject of this grass was discussed and its 

 merits generally admitted. One of the correspondents 

 alluded to says that the value of a hill grazing is 

 greatly enhanced for blackfaced sheep if there is a good 

 supply of draw moss on it, and that it has a special value 

 in the spring months, though the sheep eat it all the 

 year round. In a very open spring he has seen the 

 blackfaced sheep mellow in the skin and flush in 

 condition on account of their having had a good supply 

 of draw moss. Another correspondent writes that it is 

 invaluable for lean sheep in a backward spring, and 

 rapidly brings them forward. It is a common saying 

 that a good draw moss year is a good sheep year. A 

 third correspondent points out that, especially in bad 

 seasons, its presence or absence on a hirsel (sheep farm) 

 makes all the difference between being well or badly 

 lambed. None of the various correspondents have ever 

 heard of an attempt being made to increase the supply 

 of this highly valuable sedge. One of them mentions 

 that when some of the land on which it grew was burnt, 

 the effect of this was to increase the supply of the 

 plants, and a further experiment might be made as to 

 the effect of burning in increasing the supply of this 

 valuable sedge. So, far as I can learn, wet ground is 

 essential to the growth of this plant, and one of the 

 correspondents alluded to alleges that it disappears on 

 land which has been drained. Some plants were brought 

 down from an elevation of 1800 feet on this property, 

 placed in the garden and watered at Clifton-on-Bowmont, 

 but they all died. The head gardener at Clifton Park 

 writes as follows with reference to some plants sent here 

 from the Lammermoors : — 



